Panama 66
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San Diego Dining Guide: Where to Eat Well
PaddyPaddy
570
Updated 09-30-20. Came by again for lunch. Their Covid-19 protocols are excellent and there's tons of room in the outdoor seating area for safety. Can't say the food was quite as great as last time but I'll return again anyway. They have a limited dine-in menu with reduced hours right now. From that, I chose the Protein Plate with Lemon-oregano marinated grilled chicken, Caesar salad and Israeli couscous. The only great thing was the couscous, but it was just a sprinkle on top of mixed greens. The Caesar salad was watery and lacked flavor. The chicken was an airline breast portion and undercooked (pink in the joints). I understand this is not a health issue anymore but I don't care for the texture or flavor of medium-rare chicken. My drink was lemonade and it was very tasty. They even gave me a free refill on it. Staff were very friendly and helpful as usual. Restroom is in the Museum of Art next door. It's very clean and open even when the museum is not. Original Review: Tried this place for a late lunch last week. Unlike some others' experience, it wasn't crowded. It's counter service and after entering you immediately line up to place your order and receive a number sign to place on a table you choose. No waiting for either this time. You can also pick up a drink at the connected bar. I had the roast lamb sandwich on toasted sourdough bread with a green olive and pomegranite seed tapenade, honey and mint creme fraiche and baby spinach. The current fashion for using too many ingredients can create a confused muddle but not in this case. The lamb was tender, perfectly cooked and the taste clearly came through the other complimentary flavors. I'd say a really good chef is in charge here. My order was brought out pretty quickly and I served myself some water from the bar area. Tables were cleared and cleaned quickly. The restaurant is a pleasant outdoor space that opens directly to the San Diego Museum of Art sculpture garden. You can visit it without paying admission to the museum.
K MulcahyK Mulcahy
00
Panama 66 is in a great location in the middle of Balboa Park museum area. I went there on a Sunday evening with friends in Nov 2023 just as the sunset. Panama66 has a long way to go to get a higher rating from me. From what I ordered, the food is just OK, but VERY expensive for the tiny volume served. Very small. I ordered brisket and drank water. My brisket covered with barbecue sauce was about 5 or 6 oz max with almost 1/4 of it being fat, for just under $26, which came with about 7 small strips of glazed sweet potato(like long thin french fries), nothing else. We had to pay first at the register, we are given a number, and they brought the food to us. My brisket was barely even lukewarm, not hot, when I got it, and it got cold quickly. We were not checked on even once for service in 1.5 hours but they did come by to clear our empty plates away quickly, yet they ask for tip options starting at 18%, going up, when we order our food, before we even know what the service is going to be like. What happened to the days when tips were earned after we were provided good service? Today, so many places expect tips just for existing, or doing their basic minimum job, not for good service as it should be. The seating is 100% outdoors, so dress appropriately for the weather & temperature. They did have a live band, but we were seated where we could not see them. There were also some nice views of the various building's architecture where we dined as well. Parking is a good walk away so plan on that as well. I don't plan on returning to eat there again. There are so many better options not far away.
Frank ChacoFrank Chaco
00
The ordering is something I'm never a fan of with a family, getting handed menus at the entrance and told to order first in person and then find a table. Also makes a tip option before you even sit... America is getting a little too entitled in the food industry. There was no table service but a runner that brings the table food when ready. So really, your tip should be focused on the cook. But should it? Anyway, $67 for 3 people. They do have a kids menu which is a nice option for your kid and not a $20 adult plate, which isn't entirely unreasonable. Also, the food was very tasty! The Cheese Burger was a good grade of meat and well seasoned. The bun didn't fall apart. The fries that come with it also tasty. The Soba salad has multiple protein options to add, we chose salmon. The salmon was well cooked and not a fishy smell. Cold noodles and greens accompanied it. A nice blend! They have outdoor seating mainly. They supply heat lamps outside and also an outside bar. They also have an amazing selection of live music on most evenings, check thier calendar for who's playing. We enjoyed the scenery of Balboa park combined with this eating option and would recommend eating there to you.
Chris CarpenterChris Carpenter
00
What a great little gem in the heart of Balboa Park. The food choices are plentiful and the quality is great. The service was on point and done with a smile! Hard to find these days. Plenty of seating in an open air setting with plenty of ambiance to sooth the soul while you indulge in you good eats. Dogs are welcome, so plenty of cute pups to admire as well. Not bad as far as price.. We were looking around $55 for the 3 of us… So with tip, around $20 a head. I had the pulled pork sandwich, which they unfortunately ran out of bbq sauce that day.. Not going to knick them for that, it happens. But, I’m sure it would have tasted even better wit ha splash of some good tangy and sweet bbq sauce. Others has the tuna fish sandwich and the grilled cheese and tomato soup. Both seemed to really enjoy their meals as well. The one kicker that would have made this experience devine, live music. Just a suggestion. Some soft jazz or classical type atmospheric vibe, would have taken this experience over the top.
Conscientious Critique - TOP 5% GOOGLE REVIEWERConscientious Critique - TOP 5% GOOGLE REVIEWER
00
Food is good, takes forever, not cheap, terrible service. They take a long time and don't follow up on anything. We asked for ketchup after they dropped food, took five minutes and I saw them hanging in kitchen talking. Also wife and my food (cooked) came out five minutes before girls did. They kids ordered peanut butter and jelly sandwiches so I am not sure how to hamburgers cooked medium came out in the first place, but that means the kids were freaking out looking at our food and asking where their food was. If you do eat here, which again, the food is good, the burgers are always a safe bet, the salads are good, and there are options if you are vegan and vegetarian. One of the nice things is that the kids can run around in the sculpture garden that is attached and fenced in so they can't escape and you can let your guard down. *Also, make sure to grab your food in one line, then head to the bar to order your drink, you will get it much faster that way.
ari hoffmanari hoffman
00
Nearby Attractions Of Panama 66
Balboa Park
San Diego Zoo
Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum
San Diego Air & Space Museum
Botanical Building
Fleet Science Center
San Diego Natural History Museum
Spanish Village Art Center
The San Diego Museum of Art
Museum of Us
Balboa Park
4.8
(25.3K)Click for details
San Diego Zoo
4.7
(22.1K)Click for details
Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum
4.6
(3.7K)Click for details
San Diego Air & Space Museum
4.6
(2.5K)Click for details
Nearby Restaurants Of Panama 66
The Prado at Balboa Park
Mister A's
CUCINA urbana
Azuki Sushi Lounge
Barrio Star
Parc Bistro-Brasserie
Albert's Restaurant
The Corner Drafthouse
Pure Project Balboa Park
Daniel's Coffee
The Prado at Balboa Park
4.4
(1.5K)Click for details
Mister A's
4.6
(1.1K)Click for details
CUCINA urbana
4.6
(964)$$
Click for details
Azuki Sushi Lounge
4.6
(731)Click for details
Learn more insights from Wanderboat AIBasic Info
Address
1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101
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Phone
(619) 696-1966
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Website
panama66.com
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Reviews
Overview
4.5
(981 reviews)
Ratings & Description
Description
This casual American eatery situated within Balboa Park serves up hot & cold sandwiches plus beer.
attractions: Balboa Park, San Diego Zoo, Japanese Friendship Garden and Museum, San Diego Air & Space Museum, Botanical Building, Fleet Science Center, San Diego Natural History Museum, Spanish Village Art Center, The San Diego Museum of Art, Museum of Us, restaurants: The Prado at Balboa Park, Mister A's, CUCINA urbana, Azuki Sushi Lounge, Barrio Star, Parc Bistro-Brasserie, Albert's Restaurant, The Corner Drafthouse, Pure Project Balboa Park, Daniel's Coffee
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